VEHICLE REVIEW

CARRIER OF THE PEOPLE

As business owners, many of you know the value of diversification. Revenue generation from alternate sources can aid in cash flow, as well as enable you to develop ideas you may have that need a little more time to flourish than others. Spotong decided to take a look at two vehicles that offer you very different revenue streams, from two very different avenues.

The Nissan NV350 Impendulo

Government is spending millions of rand every year upgrading roads and public transportation to lessen the burden on our already swollen streets. Cities such as Sandton are taking further steps to remove personal vehicles from certain sections of the city. With this in mind, the demand for safe and reliable public transport is going to grow. The Impendulo is a 16-seater people-hauler that is both comfortable and affordable. At only R339 400*, the Impendulo doesn’t compromise on anything. It has seatbelts for all passengers and an ultra-rigid body that provides strength and stability in all conditions. Safety is maximised with ABS, Brake Assist and driver and passenger airbags, as well as a Zone Body Structure, which consists of safety and crushable zones. The Impendulo has plenty of space inside for the driver and all passengers. The interior is easy to adjust and all the seats are covered in a durable, hardwearing material. The Impendulo is great to drive, too, and easy to manoeuvre in and out of traffic. The 2.5 litre petrol engine delivers enough punch to haul a full

The Nissan NV350 Impendulo

load of passengers at the required speed needed to get the job done, without compromising on efficiency. When you cruise around with less than a full load, the engine is very economical and will not burn a hole in your wallet.

Competition in the minibus market is high and has been dominated by Toyota for many years. However, the Nissan NV350 Impendulo is delivering familiar and popular looks, at competitive prices, in a package that will not disappoint. The revenue possibilities are endless with this vehicle, and we recommend taking it for a test drive. You won’t be disappointed.

The NV350 also comes in a panel van version, with the passenger seats removed, for maximum load transportation capabilities.

The Nissan NV200 – sevenseater combi

When testing this vehicle for Spotong, we were tempted just to take the panel van and test the load capabilities, as that seemed the most practical example for our market. Nissan was kind enough to mention that the seven-seater combi version of the NV200 can not only haul a large family around, but can also carry seriously big loads with seats that are foldable, creating a loading bay for all your stock and cargo requirements when the family is not using it. The second and third rows of seats can be tucked away to create a huge loading bay, which can handle bicycles, golf clubs, chairs, tables and so much more.

We took the NV200 on a long trip for a weekend with four large adult men and all their luggage, and never once did we feel the NV200 was under any strain or pressure. We also never felt like our comfort was compromised in the slightest. The engine performed amicably on the open road, and the economy with a full complement of passengers was respectable and very much in line with any competition. A lot of manufacturers see the combi market as a stale one, in which good looks are given up for practicality. Nissan has delivered what we believe to be one of the best-looking seven-seaters out there.

With the possibilities endless, and the NV200 only costing R286 100*, if this is not the next tool for your business, it may be the next member of your family.